Automatic molding press



March 13,1945. w STRAUSS 2,371,195

AUTOMATIC MOLDING PRESS vwc/Mb WILLIAM STRAU ss @99 -M/. MM

Mafhls, 1945. w, STRAUSS 2,371,195'v f AUTOMATIC MoLpING PRESS I .Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 2 Ser WILLIAM STRAUSS.

@Mam

" fr@ @21M March 13, 1945. w.A sTRAUss AUTOMATIC MOLDING PRESS Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 3 mun v amd WILLIAM', TRA USS:

March 13, 1945. w. STR/wss 371,195

l 1 AUTOMATIC MOLDING PRESS l Filed Aug. 12, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ze mmto-z l 25 WILLIAM STRAUSS l I r Il 25a gz, www

Patented Mar. 13, 1945 AUTOMATIC MGLDING PRESS William Strauss, Philadelphia, Pa.,- assignor to F. J. Stokes Machine Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August l2, 1942, Serial No. 454,590

(Cl. 1li- 16) 23 Claims.

This invention relates to molding presses, and in particular to arrangements for securing automatic operation of the press through a continuous succession of cycles and-for stopping the press automatically in response to certain improper operation.

An object of the present invention is to devise a safety device for exploring the surface of the mold parts after each ejection operation and for stopping the press in the eventthat a molded piecev remains on the mold part or parts.

A further object is to devise a novel control system for operating the press through a continuous succession of molding cycles.

lA further object is to devise improved apparatus for unscrewing molded articles from thread- .ed mold parts. The unscrew'ing is accomplished by rotating one mold part with respect to the other while the two mold parts are being separated. After the molded article has been separated from the unthreaded mold part and is still retained on the threaded mold part, the final unscrewing operation is completed by a wiper element which is moved into the space between the mold parts and engages the periphery of the molded article. The present invention provides novel power drivenmeans for rotating the rotatable mold part and for adjusting the extent of rotation thereof to substantially unscrew the molded article from the threaded mold part, and to thereby limit the amount of unscrewing required by the wiper element. The present invention also involves novel control means for adjustably setting the rate of separation of the two mold parts during the unscrewing operation, and for thereafter separating the two mold parts at a faster rate. f

Another object of the invention is to devise apparatus for unscrewing threaded articles from a threaded mold part by the use of a friction wiper bar engaging the periphery of the threaded article, the wiper being arranged so that it not only completes the unscrewing of the threaded article but also removes anyfiash which may beformed on the/periphery ofV thearticle at the dividing plane of the molds This object is accomplished by arrangingthe movable wiper bar to engage the molded article so that a portion of the wiper bar extends above the plane of the flash.

Still another object is to provide vmeans for each molding operation.` The lower die plate car'- rying the dies is mounted on a movable carriage and is moved out of the press after each molding Y cleaning the die cavities and lower die parts after `guides for the movable platen of the press.

operation into position under a loading device for loading new charges of 'material in the cavities. For cleaning the lower die plate, a jet pipe or manifold is arranged above the upper surface of the die plate and in front of the loading device to direct jets di air against the upper surface of the plate as the plate is moved towards the loading device. The air supply to the jet pipe is rendered effective by the outward movement of the die plate and is cut oil by the return movement of the plate.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevationalview of a press illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2v is a front view of the press shown in Figure 1 with the loading device removed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear view showing the upper partof the press in elevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of vFigure 1 taken ing the feeler or stripper bar mounted atthe rear of thewiper frame;

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram lillustrating the hydraulic and electric' systems for operating and controlling the press either automatically or manually; and

Figure 8a is a sectional view of one of the control valves used in Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, the various features oi the present invention have been shown embodied in a hydraulic press, but `it will be understood that certain features are not limited to use in hydraulic presses but are useful in mechanical and other types of presses. In the drawings, the press is formedof a main frame consisting of a base I and a head 2 supported above the base by four' tie-rods 3' which also serve as vertical An upper platen l is secured to the underside of head 2 and is suitably heated if required. An

ber of parallel rows, A plurality of racks 'I are' positioned in a plurality of slots formed in the upper face of plate parallel to the rows of forces 6, one rack being provided for each row of forces and is arranged to engage the pinions 6b on all forces in the row. A cover plate 5a is secured to the top of plate 5 and serves to re-v tain the rotary forces 6 and slideable racks .1 in position on the plate 5. As shown in ,Figures 1 and 3, the ends of racks 1 are secured to a crosshead 'Ia which is mounted for reciprocation parallel to the axis of racks 1. Preferably the crosshead 'Ia is supported from a slidev'lb carried by bracket 2a mounted on head 2. Crossheadvla is reciprocated by a piston mountedin cylinder 8 carried by bracket 2a. Cylinder 8 is designed so that its full stroke produces a maxmum rotation of forces 6 for a press of certain capacity, and the 4amount of rotation required for any particular molded article may be secured by limiting the stroke of the piston in cylinder 8 in any suitable manner. One satisfactory arrangement is to insert a split sleeve A8a on the piston rod between crosshead 'Ia and the front end of cylinder 8. By substituting sleeves of different lengths, the stroke of the piston may be' limited to any desired value. It is also obvious that other devices may be employed for limiting the stroke of the crosshead 1a, such as adjustable stops clamped on. the lower horizontal part of bracket 2a.

-A lower heated platen 9 is carried by a table I0 which is mounted for vertical movement below die plate 5 and is guided by tie-rods 3. Table I0 may be reciprocated vertically by any suitable power means, but in the arrangement illustrated, the table is mounted upon a pair of toggle constructions formed of upper links Illa and Illb and lower links IIlc and IUd. The two toggle arrangements are operated by a pair of links Ila and I Ib connecting the toggles with a pivot shaft I Ic which is reciprocated vertically by a piston mounted in a pressure cylinder I2 located in the base I. A lower die plate 9b is positioned on the upper face of lower` platen 9 and carries a plurality of die elements 9c' having mold cavities formed therein and arranged to cooperate with forces 6 in forming internally threaded closure caps. Preferably the vertical walls o f the die cavity would be fluted or otherwise formed to provide interlocking engagement between the molded part and the die part 9c to prevent rotation of the molded article therein but permitting stripping of the article therefrom'by separation of the force plug 6 from the die parts 9c.

In Figure 1 crosshead 1a is shown in its extreme right-hand position. 'I'he normal position of the crosshead is indicated in dotted lines, and it remains in this position during the molding operation. In moving from the dotted position to the full line position shown in Figure 1, crosshead 'Ia operates racks 1 to rotate forces 6 in a direction to unscrew the molded articles from the forces. Movement of crosshead 'I is stopped by the sleeve 8a just short of completely unscrewing the caps from the forces; It will be understood that the lower platen 9 is being lowered simultaneously with the rotation of forces 6.

Die plate 9b is not secured to platen :I but is mounted to be moved in and out of the press on a guide structure formed in part by a rectangular frame-like bracket which is secured to and carried by table I0. This ltable, extension or bracket is formed of two parallel sfde walls Ila and IIb joined Vat their ends by transverse walls IIc and IId. 'Ihe bracket is mounted withA the upper faces of side walls I Ia and I Ib in the same plane with the upper face of heated platen 9, and the upper surfaces of side walls IIa and IIb form parallel track elements for supporting the lower die plate 9b when4 it is moved out of the press.

To facilitate movement of the die plate out bf the press, aA pair ofracks I2a and I2b are secured to opposite sides of lower die plate 9b and are movable therewith. Racks I2a and I2b constitute a movable carriage f or the die plate. A shaft I2c is suitably journaled on bracket IIa- IIb transversely ofthe bracket below the racks I2a and |217, and a pair of pinions I2d and I2e are secured to the shaft I2c and engage racks I2a and I2b respectively. The outer end of shaft I2c isprovided with a pinion IZf which engages rack I 2g mounted in a suitable guide structure for reciprocation to rotate the shaft I2c. Rack I2g is reciprocated by a piston Ila operating in pressure cylinder I3 supported on a bracket lib which in turn is supported on vertically movable table I0. Preferably the pinion I2f is of smaller diameter than pinions I2d and I2e so that a given movement of rack I2g produces a greater movement of' die plate 9b, for example, pinion I2] may have a diameter equal to one-half the diameter of pinions I2d and I2e. Piston I3a and rack I2g are shown in their normal position with the die plate Ib in its normal position in the press. When cylinder I3 is energized to operate piston I3a to the right, die plate 9b is moved out of the press and into position'under a loading device I4 mounted on bracket IIa--I I b.

'Ihe loading device I 4 may be of any suitable construction for depositing molding material in the die cavities on plate 9b when the plate comes into position under the loading device. Devices of this type are known and need not be described in detail. It is suilicient to state that the device would involve a hopper or storage container Ila for receiving molding material, either in powdered form or as preforms, and the device would also involve a suitable release, operated by movement oi the die plate into position under the loading device, for releasing the proper charges into the die cavities.

For-the purpose of cleaning the4 die cavities of excess molding material, flash, or other loose material, I arrange a jet pipe Il transversely of the bracket IIa-II b and above the path of travel of die plate 9b. The pipe I5 is provided with suitable air` holes along its length for directing air blasts downwardly and forwardly against the upper surface of the oncoming die plate as' the plate is being moved out of the press and into position under the loading device. Jet pipe Il is provided with a connection to a suitable source of compressed air, the connection including a spring biased cut-off valve lia carried by bracket wall IIa. Valve Ilia is normally closed to cut'o the supply of air to pipe I5. A tiltable control lever lib ispivotally supported on bracket I Ia, and the upper end of this lever is mounted in the path of movement of a cam strip I 5c mounted for movement with die plate lb as it is moved out of the press. In the normal vertical position of the control element Ilb, the valve Ila is closed,

press, cam strip I5c tilts lever |527 to the left and opens the valve Ia to admit air to pipe I5 at the time when the front edge of the plate 9b is in a position to pass under the pipe I5. The cam strip lic maintains the valve I5a open until the plate has passed beyond the pipe I5, and then Y element may be positioned in iront of platen l beneath tray I'I for determining the position at which the tray will tilt downwardly to discharge the lever I5b rides off of the' cam strip I5c and u walls I6a and IBb, and'two transverse Walls IGc and lid is suitably secured to the rear edge of die plate 9b, although this frame might be secured to racks I2aA and `|21). Preferably, this irame is fastened into position by securing means which will permit adj/ustmvnt of the frame in a vertical' direction with respect to the die plate 9b. A number oi' friction wiper bars Ie are mounted between transverse walls I6c and Id in parallel arrangement and 'slightly displaced with respect to the rows of die cavities formed in die elements 9c. The stripper bars I6e are preferably provided with rubber sleeves IBf throughout their eifective length to increase the friction between the wiper bars and the molded article. As will be seen, one friction bar is provided for each row of die elements 9c carried by plate 9b, and the bars are positioned so that, as the die plate 9b is moved out of the press, one side of each bar will engage the outer periphery of the molded screw cap carried by each force 6 in the row associated with the bar. As the bar.

moves forward, the friction betweenfthe rubber covering on the bar and the molded article will cause the article to rotate in a direction to com-` plete ,the unscrewing operation. Preferably, as shown in Figure 6, the stripper bars are so mounted that when the press is fully open, the

- bars will engage the molded articles at the dividing plane yofA` the article (here shown as a screw-cap C) and will serve to break away the ash flange Ca ,which may be adhering to the article at the mold-dividing plane. If the flash is not removed, there is likelihood that articles which carry an unusually large ilange of ilash will become lodged between adjacent wiper bars and will not be properly discharged from' the press.

As the articles are unscrewed from forces 8,

t they drop down"between the wiper bars axid are the articles therefrom.

The sidemembers lia and I6b of the frame carrying friction bars If are extended to the' rear, and a stripper, scraper or feeler bar I8 is pivotally mounted transversely of the frame between these extensions. 'I'he upper edge of the bar is located at an elevation which permits the bar-to lpass beneath the forces VIi with a small clearance between the bar and the lower end of the forces. The bar is pivoted at each end near the lower edge thereof as shown at IBa, and is urged forward against a xed stop I8b by a suitable biasing spring I8c. A normally closed switch I9 is carried by frame member I6b in a position behind stripper bar I8, and the operating plunger Isa oi' switch I9 is positioned to be operated by the bar I8 in case the bar comes into contact with a molded article which may be sticking on one of the forces.

In Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the hydraulicsystern for operating the various pressure cylinders and also showing the wiring diagram of the electric control system for securing automatic operation of the press. In the ex ample illustrated, the source of power'is an electric motor 20 supplied from a circuit 20a controlled by contacts 20h on relay 20c. Preferably a polyphase motor and circuit is employed. The energizing circuit for relay 20c extends from one conductor of .circuit 20a through. the relay, through switch I9 associated with the stripper bar I8, through stop push-button 20d, and through start push-button 20e back to another conductor of the' supply circuit. Upon operating push-button 20e, relay 20c is energized vto close the circuit to motor 20. Contact 20f on relay 20c closes a holding circuit for the relay in its upper cuit to energize a signal lamp 20g.

-Motor 20 drives a high pressure pump 2| and a, low pressure pump 22, the two pumps having intakes connected with the supply tank 23 containing a suitable liquid, such as oil. High prestion shown in full lines in Figure l. Low pressure pump 22 supplies uid under pressure to the main press cylinder I2 through an electrically controlled valve 24 having an opening winding Po and a closing winding Pc. For the sake of simplied showing, the table I0 of the press has edge of tray Il passes beyond the left edge of platen 9, and from this point on the tray is sup ported at the left edge of platen 8. When lthe rear pivoted edge of tray I1 approaches the left edge of platen 9, the trayII tilts downwardly to discharge the molded articles into chute Ilb carried by front bracket IIa-IIb. Chute I'Ib directs the molded articles into a suitable container not shown. As the die plate 9b is returned toits normal position, the pivoted tray II will also be forced back into its horizontal or normal position by engagement with the front edge of platen I. It will be understood that a separate guide been shown in Figure 8 as being operated directly by the piston in pressure cylinder I2. The opening connection from valve 24 to cylinder I2 includes an adjustable metering or throttlingvalve 25, and the fclosing connection from valve 24 tg` cylinder I2 includes a. similar valve 26. The

. valve 25 is bypassed by a connection including a normally open shut-ofi valve'25a provided with an operating plunger 25h arranged in the path of travel of an adjustable cam element 25e carried by a movable part of the press and adapted to engage and operate the plunger 25h t0 cut oi the flow through valve 25a as the press ap; proaches its closed position. Throttling valve 26 is also by-passed by a connection including a normally open shut-oil valve 26a having an operating plunger-26h arranged in the path oi' travel of an 'adjustablecam'element 26e mounted on a part of the press 'operating mechanism and arranged to shut ont` uid through valve 26a as the press begins to open. Figure 8a shows the internal 4construction of shut-off valve 25a; valve 26a has a similar construction. Plunger 25h snormally .held in a position to permit free ow of nuid through the main passage, but flow in the main vpassage is -cut `oi when the plunger is pushed `in. An auxiliary passage is shunted around plunger 25h and includesa spring-pressed check valve 25e which permits uid to flow downwardly through the valve regardless of thev position of plunger 25h. The spring retaining cavity for plunger 25b is drained-by conduit 25d. Low pressure' pump 22 also supplies fluid under pressure-to the mold transfer cylinder I3 through valve 21 .which is provided Witha winding Mo for controlling cylinder I3 to move the mold out of the press, and a winding M to move the mold back into the press.l In Figure 8 the pressure pipe connections are shown in broken lines, while the drain or return connections for thevarious valves are represented in dot-dash lines.

contact b on relay Rpm The operating winding., 'f of relays Rpo', Ppe and valve operating windings f,

- Po, Pc and Eo are-all directly connected to supply The supply line to ejector cylinder 8 includes a sequence valve SV which has a plunger valve Sa normally urged to the right by spring Sb under a pressure which is adjustable by screw Sc. In the biased positionof plunger Sa, high pressure fluid4 is supplied to the ejector' valve 2Ia but the conduit Sd leading to the line which supplies fluid to .main cylinder I2 and to transfer cylinder I3 is closed.- An internal-passage Se in the sequence valve supplies high pressure fluid to the rear end of plunger Sa and forces the plunger' to the left when the pressure reaches a certain amount, thereby admitting high pressure fluid to the supply line for cylinders I2 and I3 as well as to the line for cylinder 8. A check valve VC prevents the high pressure fluid from entering low 'pressure pump 22. A pressure responsive low pressure pump unloading valve VPR prevents excessive pressures in the high pressure outlet of pump 2I and provides a drain back to tank 23 for pressures above a certain limit. A valve PRD responds to high pressure fluid in the supply line for cylinders I2 and I3 and opens a dumping conductor L2a yby tw o 'alternative paths, one of or drain connection from the outlet of low pres.I

sure pump 22 back to the tank 23; this valve may be embodied in the construction of pump 22. From the foregoing it will be clear that on the opening stroke of the cylinder I2, uid is freely admitted to the cylinder throughout the. stroke, and the flow out of the cylinder is also unrestricted except when by-pass valve 26a is closed and at this time the' out now is restricted to the ow through valve 28. In the same way, on the closing stroke the in ow is unrestricted for the entire stroke, and the outflow isunrestricted except when by-pass valve 25a is closed.

The supply conductors for the electric control system are represented at LI and L2. Supply conductor LI is directly connected to one'terminal of clutch coil Ta and the motor Tb of a timer 6 conductor-LI. Af relay Rmo is provided to control the ncircuit of winding Mo onr valve 21, and a; A

relay Rmz' 'controlsthe circuit of-valve Winding Mi, these two relays being mechanically interthe two windings.

Mi are directly connected to supply conductor LI.

The return connections for the various relays and valve windings' back to supply conductor L2 may be completed for automaticoperation or-forv,

hand operation. For this purpose, two inter l locked, push buttons 28 and 29 are provided, the

button 28 being pressed for automatic operation, y

and button 29 being pressed for hand operation. In the position of the buttons shown in Figure 8,

for automatic operation, button 28 completes the supply circuit for relay Rmo through a limit switch LSee which is operated to closed position by crosshead la when the crosshead reaches its righthand position, and the circuit of Rmo also includes limit switch Lsp positioned. to be operated to closed position by the press when it is fully open. Button 29 completes a connection between supply conductor L2 and an extension conductor L2a which is directly connected to the return terminals of timer motor Tb. l `'I'he return circuit of timer clutch coil Ta is completed to which includes a normally closed limit switch LSmo, through the normally open contact Td in timer T to L2a. The alternative return circuit for winding Ta is through normally open limit switch LSmi and through the normally closed contact of push button 30 back to L2a. Limit switch LSmo is located in a position to be opened by rack I2a (or some other movable part) when die plate 9b comes into proper position under the loading device I4, and limit switch LSmi is positioned to be closed by rack I2a l(or by some other movable part) when the die plate 9b is in proper position in the press. The return connection for relay Rpc is completed over two alternative paths corresponding to the paths traced above for timer clutch winding Ta, the only difference being that the circuit of this relay winding also includes the normally closed contact b lon relay Rpo.

Operation of the timer T is las follows: Contacts Tc and Td are normally open when clutch coil Ta is de-energized. Energizing coil Ta closes contact Td and holds this contact closed so long as the coil is energized. As soon as coil Ta is energized, the timer starts counting off time, and at the end of a set time, the timer closes contact Tc which remains closed while coil Ta is energized. When coil'Ta is de-energized, contacts Tc and Td open and the timer resets itself for another operation.

The return connections for the windings of relays Rpo, Rmi, and for valve windings Pc, Eo.

Pc, Mo and Mi are all completed to extension conductor L2a as follows: relay Rpo, through normally open contact Tc on timer T; relay'Rmi, through normally open limit switch LSer, positioned to be operated to closed position by crosshead 1a when in its lefthand position; winding Po, through normally open contact a on relay Rpo; winding Eo, through the normally open contacts controlled by contact b on relay Rpo; winding Pc, throughj the normally open contacts on relay Rpc, and through the normally closed capacity than high pressure pump 2I, IDump normally supplies cylinders I2 press, push-button 29 is depressed, and this d isconnects the circuit through push-button 28 to relay Rmo, and also disconnects the connection through push-button 29 to extension conductor L20. For manual closing of the press, push butl ton 30, when depressed, completes the return circuit for relay Rpc to supply conductor L2 instead of to extension conductor L2a. Push-button 28 completes a connection topush-buttons 3l and 32 which in turn control the circuits of valve 15 windings Mo and Mi respectively and independently ofrelays Rmo and Rmi. Push button 3| effects movement of the mold out of the press. while button 32 effects movement 'of the mold into the press. Push-button 23 in its lower position 20 completes a connection to another pair of normally open push buttons 33 and 34. Button 33 controls valve winding Eo independently of relay Rpo to operate ejector crosshead la to effect unscrewing of the molded articles from the forces. 25

Button 34 controls the circuit of th'e valve winding Po independently of the relay Rpo to cause opening of' the press.

Operation of the press is as follows, referring to Figure 8: y

Assume that a charge of molding material is being compressed and cured in the press. At the end of the curing time, normally open timer contact Tc closes and energizes relay Rpo which in turn energizes openingmagnet Po and ejector magnet E0. Timer clutch coil Ta remains energized and holds contactTd closed. Elector cylinder 8 and opening cylinder I2 operate simultaneously to rotate the force plugs and to separate the two die plates. As the lower platen moves downwardly, cam element 26e yoperates by-pass s s one of its end positions, pressure builds up in the sequence valve and causes it to operate and connect pump 2| to the supply line for cylinders I2 and I3.

When the ejector crosshead 'la reaches the position shown in Figure 8, it.closes limit switch LSee, and as soon as the press 'is fully open and `limit switch LSp is closed, a circuit is closed through these two limit 4switches to energize relay Rmo which operates and energizes valve winding M0, lthus operating pressure cylinder I3 in a direction to move the mold out of the `press and under the loading device I4. riage is moved out of the press, the friction bars IBf engage the molded articles and complete the unscrewing of the articles from the forces as explained above.

As soon as the mold reaches its loading position,

limit switch- LSmo is opened by the movable carriage of the mold, and this opens the circuit of clutch winding Ta, thereby releasing contacts Tc and Td and resetting the timer T. Opening of timer contact Tc de-energizes relay Rpo which drops out, and its contact b prepares a circuit for energizing relay Rpc. The opening of relay Rpo also de-energizes ejector valve magnet Eo, and this valve returns under its spring bias to a position to operate ejector crosshead 1a back to its normal posi-tion. As soon as crosshead 'Ia returns 30 to its normal position, it closes limit switch LSer valve 28a and restricts the flow of fluid out of the lower end of cylinder I2 and thereby regulates the downward movement of the lower platen to secure the proper speed of separation of the two mold parts with respect to the speed of rotation of the forces by rack 1. The speed owfseparation is controlled so that crosshead 'la completes its full stroke before the rlower die elements'move out of interlocking engagement with the molded articles. '60

Furthermore, the extent of movement of cross# head 1a is regulated by the length of stop collar 3a so that the threaded engagement ofthe articles on the forces at the end of the stroke of the crosshead is just sumcient to retain the caps on the forces. After cam 26e passes plunger 26h of valve 26a, the lower platen travels downwardly at a higher rate.

Low pressure pump 22 has a greater pumping and this and I3 to operate the cylinders at a relatively high rate except after sequence valve SV has been operated to connect in pump 2I and pressure in these cylinders has built up above the setting of low pressure pump unloading valve PRD. The low pressure is ythen by-passed without resistance directly to tank 23. Normally the pump 22 would be set for `operation at, say, 200'pounds pressure, while sewhi-ch energizes relay Rmi which in turn lenergizes valve magnet Mi, thus operating pressure cylinder I3 to move the mold back into the press. As soon as the mold reaches its proper position in the press, limit switch LSm is closed by the mold` carriage, and this switch completes a circuit through .clutch winding Ta on timer T and starts the timer in operation, closing contact Td and counting oil the time for the later closure of contact Tc. The closure of limit switch LSmz' completes the circuit for energizing relay Rpc which in Yturn energizes the press closing magnet Pc of valve 24, thus operating pressure cylinder I2 in a direction to close the press. The lower platen moves upwardly at a relatively high rate until cam element 25o engages plunger 25h of by-pass valve' 25a and restricts the flow of fluid out of cylinder I2, thereby reducing the speed of closure of the press as the two mold plates approach each other. The press remains closed under the pressure of lcylinder I2 until timer T e that as the lower die plate is moved out of the press, air manifold I5 is operated to clean the die quence valve SV would be set to connect in pump 70 2| when the pressure in the rack cylinder supply cavities and the upper surface of the lower die plate of flash and other loose material.

In the normal operation of the press, the switch I9 associated with `feeler or stripper bar I8 remains closed, but in the event that a molded article or a quantity of molding material should stick to any of the force plugs and project Ibeyond the ends of these plugs, the bar I8 will open the switch I8 and thereby stop the motor 20 and energize the signal lamp 20g. 'I'his results in stopping of the operation of the press until an attendant discovers and remedies the cause of the line reaches above 600 pounds pressure per square Inch. The sequence 'valve remains in its biased position when the ejector is moving from one position to another. but when the ejector reaches improper operation. It will be understood that bar I8 will serve to strip any article or other material which is weakly adhering to the upper die parts', and the bar will function to stop' the press As the mold caronly where the adhering parts establish enough resistance to movement. of the bar to compress the spring I8c and tilt the bar backwards. Suitable means may be provided to adjust the face of biasing spring I8c.

It will be obvious that the stripper or feeler bar I8 is useful for checking the improper operation of the molding press for molding articles of various types and is not limited to screw threaded articles requiring friction or wiper bars. Also, the feeler bar may be applied to a molding press of the type where the lower platen remains in the press and is loaded by a reciprocating loading board. In this case, thefeeler bar would be mounted on a movable carriage formed in part by racks I2a and l2b, the carriage being reciprocated by the same arrangement described herein. The loading board may also be mounted on the same carriage to the rear of the feeler bar, in which case the loading device would be positioned on the opposite side of the press from the position shown in the drawings and in a position-to iill the loading board when it is moved out of thepress.

The control valves a and 26a, 'and limit switch LSp, diagrammatically represented in Figure 8. maybe mounted in any suitable manner for operation by the opening and closing movement of the press, and one suitable arrangement is shown in Figure 2 where cam element 26e for operating valve 26a is adjustably mounted upon a sector plate secured to and movable with one of the toggle links lod. An adjustable cam element 35a may also be mounted on plate 35 for operating the limit switch LSp.

While Ihave shown and described a preferred arrangement of a press and its control system embodying the various features of my invention and illustrating the principle of operation thereof, it will be obvious that other embodiments may be devised for accomplishing the same objects.

What I claim is:

1. Aimacltine for molding threaded articles from plastic material comprising, in combination, a pair of separable mold parts, one of said parts having screw-threads formed thereon and the other part being unthreaded, means for separating said mold parts to strip the molded article from said unthreaded mold part, adjustable means, operative during the initial separating movement, for xing the speed of separation of said mold parts at a predetermined speed, means rendered operative after a predetermined separacludes an adjustable stop for limiting the amount of rotation of said rotatable mold part to prevent complete unscrewing of the molded article from said threaded mold part.

5. A machine for molding articles from plastic molding material comprising, in combinatioma press having two cooperating mold parts, one f said parts being movable to open and close the mold and at least one mold part being xed against movement transversely of the press, operating means for operating said movable part to open and vclose said mold in a succession of cycles, a` feeler element mounted forA movement transverselyof the press to explore the face of said fixed mold part, means operable in timed relation with said movable part for moving said feeler element to explore said xed mold part when the mold is open, and means controlled by engagement of said feeler element with a molded article retained on said mold part for stopping said operating means.

6. A machine for molding articles from plastic molding material comprising, in combination, a press having relatively movable platens, cooperating mold parts carried by said platens, at least one of said mold parts being x'ed against movement transversely ofthe press, operating means for operating one of said platens to open and close the mold ina succession o'f cycles, a movable carriage mounted for movement transversely of the press and into the space between said platens when said mold is open, a feeler element carried by said movable carriage and arranged to explore the face of said fixed mold part positioned within said press when said carriage is moved between said platens, means operable -in timed relation with said movable platen for moving said carriage between said platens when said tained on said mold part for stopping said operating means.

'7. A machine for molding plastic articles comprising, in combination, a press having a die plate supported therein, a loading device mounted adjacent said press, means for transferring said die plate from said press into loading position in said loading device, an air manifold located between vsaid press and said loadingdevice and arranged to direct air jets against the upper face of said die plate as said plate is moved into said loading device, a source of lair lfor said manifold, and

. means controlled by movement of said die plate tion of said mold parts to increase the speed of 'separatiom'means for rotating one of said mold Darts to unscrew the threaded article from said threaded mold part, and means for energizing said rotating means in timed relation withA said separating means to cause operation of said rotating means during the range of the lower speed of separation of said mold parts.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said speed fixing means is controlled by the opening movement of said movable mold part.

3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means for separating said mold parts includes a pressure cylinder supplied with iluid under pres- `sure for operating the movable mold part, and including a valve in the fluid supply for said cylinder and a cam operated by the initial range ofmovement of said movable mold part for controlling said valve to restrict the rate of iluid supplied to said cylinder.

4. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said rotatable mold part infor admitting air to said manifold on the outward movement of said plate and for cutting oil the air on the return movement of said plate.

8. A machine for molding articles from plastic molding material comprising, in combination, a pair of separable mold parts, one of said parts having a threaded portion for forming screw threads on the molded article, and one of said parts being movable to open and close the mold, a reciprocatable wiper bar mounted for movement adjacent said threaded mold portion and being positioned tov frictionally engage the molded article and rotate the same in a direction to unscrew said article from said threaded mold portion, said wiper bar being positioned to engage and remove the flash flange formed on said article at the mold-dividing plane.

9. A machine for molding threaded articles from plastic material comprising, in combination, a pair of separable mold parts, one of said mold parts having a die cavity formed therein and the other mold part having a rotatable threaded force positioned to enter said die' cavity, means for separating said mold parts to strip the molded article from said cavity, means for rotating said force in a direction to unscrew the threaded article therefrom,'mea ns for timing the operation of said separating means and said rotating means to initiate the rotation of said force prior to removal of said article from said cavity, a stop for stopping the rotation of said force .before the article has been completely unscrewed therefrom, `a movable carriage mounted for movement transversely of the axis of said force and adjacent thereto, a wiper bar mounted on said movable "carriage and positioned to frictionally engage the molded article and rotate the saine to completely unscrew the article from said force, said wiper bar being positioned to extend above and below the mold dividing plane `on said article and to thereby destroy the ash ilange formed on the article, a scraper element mounted on the rear of said movable carriage and positioned to pass the end of said force with a small clearance,

biasing means for normally holding said scraper. element in scraping position and permitting movement of the element from its normal position' when the resistance to movement thereof exceeds a predetermined amount, power means for moving said movable carriage past said force in timed relation with the, separation of said mold parts, and means controlled by movement c of said scraper element from its normal position for stopping the operation of said power means.

10. A machine for molding articles comprising, in combination, a press having upper and lower mold parts supported therein including .means for separating said mold parts, a loading device mounted adjacent said press, means for transferring the lower mold part from said press into loading position in said loading device, an air manifold located between said press'and said loading device and arranged to direct air jets against the upper surface 'of said lower mold part as said partis moved into said loading device. means controlled by movement of said lower mold part for supplying air to said manifold on the ylli said reciprocating loading carriage, a feeler element mounted for movement with said loading carriage and positioned to explore the face of one of said mold parts, and means controlled by engagement of said feeler element with molding material retained on said mold part for stopping said power means.

13. A machine for molding threaded articles comprising, in combination, a press having upper and lower mold parts, one of said parts having.

screw-threads formed thereon and one part being rotatable, means for separating said mold parts, means operable from a set position Ato an eject position for rotating said rotatable part to `unscrew the molded article from said threaded mold part, a loading 4device mounted adjacent saidv press, means for transferring the lower mold part from said press into loading position in said loading device, and means controlled by the operation of said unscrewing means to its eject position for initiating the operation of said transfer means. l

14. A machine according to claim 13 and including means controlled by said transfer means in its loading position for eecting return of said unscrewing means to its set position, and means controlled by said unscrewing means in its set position for effecting return of said transfer means into molding position in the press.

l5. A machine for molding threaded articles comprising, in combination,A a press having upper 'and lower mold parts, one of said parts having `screw-threads formed thereon and one part being rotatable, means for separating said mold parts, means operable from a set position to an eject position for rotating said rotatable part to unscrew the molded article from .said threaded mold part, a loading device mounted adjacent said press, a loadingcarriage mounted for reciprocation between said press and said loading device, means controlled by said unscrewing means outward movement of said lower mold part and .for separating said mold parts,. a loading device mounted adjacent said press, means for transferring the lower mold part from said press' into loading position 'in said loading device, power means for operating saidA transfer means, a feeler element mounted for movement with said low- -er mold part and positioned to explore the face of said upper mold part, and means controlled by engagement of said feeler element with molding material retained on said uppervmold part for stopping said power means. i

12. A machine for molding articles comprising, in combination, a press having upper and lower mold parts supportedtherein including means for separating said mold parts, a loading device mounted adjacent said press, a loading carriage mounted for reciprocation between said press and said loading device, power'means for operating in its eject position for effecting movement of said -loading carriage into loading position,` a feeler element mounted on said carriage and positioned to explore the face of one of said mold parts, and means controlled by engagement of said feeler element with molding material retained on said mold part for stopping said carriage.

16. A machine for molding threaded articles comprising, in combination, a press having upper and lower mold parts, one of said parts having screw-threads formed thereon and one part being rotatable, means for separating said mold parts, means operable from `a set position to an eject position for rotating said rotatable part to unscrew the molded article from said threaded mold part, a loading device for said press, means controlled by said unscrewing device inits eject -position to initiate operation of said loading device, means controlled by said loading device to eifect operation of said unscrewing means to its set position, a timing device, means controlled `by said loading device upon completion of a loading operation to effect closing of said press and starting of said timing device, and means controlled by said timing device to open said press after a predetermined time and to simultaneously energize said unscrewing means.

17. A machine for moldingthreaded articles comprising, in combination, a press having upper and vlower moldparts, one of said parts having screw-threads formed thereon and one part being rotatable, means for separating said mold parts, timing means for energizing 'said separating means to open the mold, means operable in timed relation with the opening of said mold for rotating said rotatable mold part to unscrew the molded article from said threaded mold part, a loading device for said press, means controlled by a predetermined movement of said unscrewing means and by a predetermined opening of said mold for initiating the operation of said loading device, and means controlled by said loading device upon completion of anloading operation to eiect closing of said press and starting o f said timing means.

18. In a machine for molding screw threaded articles, the combination of a pair of separable mold parts mounted for relative movement into and out of engagement to form the article, operating means for operating one of said mold parts to open and close the mold in a succession of cycles, one of said parts having thread molding means adapted, upon separation of said moldl 19. In combination, a molding press having an upper mold plate carrying a plurality of mold elements having threaded engagement with the articles formed in the press, a trackway mounted beneath said mold plate and extending on oppol site sides of said press, a carriage movable' along said trackway from a position on one side of said press to a position on the opposite side thereof and passing beneath said mold plate, means mounted on said carriage for frictionally engaging the articles on said mold elements and for unscrewing said articles as said carriage is moved beneath said mold plate from one side of said 21. A machine for molding articles comprising,

in combination, a press having upper and lower mold parts supported therein including means for separating said mold parts, a loading device mounted adjacent said press, a loading carriage mounted for reciprocation between said press and said loading device, power means for operating said reciprocating loading carriage from a normal position to a position to fill the cavities in the lower mold part, feeler means mounted for movement with the said loading carriage to explore the face of one of said mold parts before said carriage reaches loading position, and means controlled by engagement of said feeler means with molded material retained on said mold parts for stopping said power means and to thereby prevent the lling of said mold cavities.

22. A machine for molding articles from plastic molding material comprising, in combination, a press having relativelymovable upper and lower platens, cooperating mold parts carried by said platens including a plurality of heated die elements carried by the lower platen, operating means for operating one of said platens to open and close the press in a succession of cycles.' a loading device i mounted adjacent ysaid press, a loading carriage mounted for reciprocation between said press and said loading device, means controlled in timed relation with theA opening of said press for operating said loading-carriage from a normal position to 'a position to ll the die cavities in the lower platen, feeler means mounted for move-v ment from a position to one side of said platens into a position between said platens to explore the mold parts carried by one of said platens, means operated in timed relation with the operation of said loading carriage for moving said 'feeler means into exploring position before said loading carriage reaches its loading position, and means controlled by engagement of said Ieeler means with molded material retained on the mold press to the other side thereof, feeler means mounted on said carriage to the rear of said unscrewing means and arranged to traverse the faces of said threaded mold elements with small clearance, and a control element operated by said feeler means upon engagement of said feeler means with an article retained on any of said threaded mold elements. i 20. A combination according to claim 19 wherein said threaded mold elements are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows parallel with said trackway, and wherein said feeler means comprises a horizontal bar mounted transverselyV of said carriage and extending across said rows of threaded mold elements, said bar being pivotally supported on a horizontal axis to e tilted backwardly by engagement .with a molded article carried by any of said threaded mold elements.

parts being explored for stopping said press operating means and to thereby prevent the filling of said mold cavities.-

23. A machine for molding articles from plastic molding material comprising, in combination, a press having two cooperating mold parts, one

of said parts being movable to open and close the mold and at least one mold part being tlxed against movement transversely of the press and serving to retain a molded article thereon after f each molding operation, means for operating said movable part to open and close said mold in a succession of cycles, said press including a carriage movable transversely of the press adjacent said article-retaining mold part during each molding cycle, a stopping device for said operating means, and means for controlling said stopping device comprising an exploring device mounted upon said carriage and positioned to explore the face of said article-retaining mold part during movement of said carriage.

WILLIAM STRAUSS. 

